The Remains of the Day is a Man Booker Prize-winning novel by Kazuo Ishiguro about a butler and his relationship with a former colleague, the housekeeper Miss Kenton.

Summary of the Book

Stevens is an English butler who has spent most of his life serving Lord Darlington. Now working for a new employer, the distinguished Mr. Farraday, Stevens receives a letter from a former colleague, the housekeeper Miss Kenton. In the letter, she describes her married life, which Stevens interprets as an unhappy one. To Stevens, the letter arrives with a chance to revisit both a lost relationship and the possibility of re-employment. Mr. Farraday believes Stevens wants to go on a motoring trip and lends him his car for a well-deserved break. Along the ride, Stevens reminisces about his past relationship with Miss Kenton. Along the course of the novel, it becomes apparent that they once had feelings for one another, but they had never admitted this to one another. Can Stevens return to Lord Darlington’s service and find the closure he desperately seeks?

About Kazuo Ishiguro

Kazuo Ishiguro is a British novelist born in Japan. Among his other works are A Pale View of Hills, An Artist of the Floating World, The Unconsoled, When We Were Orphans and Never Let Me Go.

The current title was adapted into a film starring Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson with James Fox, Christopher Reeve, Hugh Grant and Ben Chaplin. It received eight Academy Award nominations and is a critically acclaimed movie.

"The Remains of the Day" is the story of an English butler reminiscing about his past employer and his associations as well as his own professional life. Although very well written in terms of the narration, the book just makes for an average read. It neither thrills nor excites. It is kind of like an uninteresting monologue.

It sure does give insights into various characters like a character study but nothing beyond that.

Kazuo Ishiguro's "Remains of the day," is beautifully written, so evocative of that particular era, that one longs & yearns to travel back in time to experience it........loved it & it certainly is a firm favourite. Had watched the movie a long time ago, but read the book for the first time now, and found it as mesmerizing as the movie.

The novel never goes out of the way to build the story through the flashbacks and travelogue of an old butler on a journey. Loyalty, dignity, relationships, politics and even romance were discussed in the most astonishing style devoid of the cheap theatrics.

This goes in the good category of the novels i have read. It talks about the butler system in England. The plot is well laid out. The protagonist recalls his experiences, who is a butler. One might redefine the meaning of 'dignity' after reading this novel. Language is good. I would definitely recommend this as part of academic curriculum.

Let me tell you, this is an incredibly touching story. Having read it, i'm sure this would remain a favourite of mine for years to come. you may not find the idea that the book is about an ageing butler very interesting. but quite surprisingly it gets you thinking. If you are not able to finish the book quickly,do be patient, the work deserves your time. Can you imagine the kind of loyalty n faith it takes a man to spend his life in its entirety for someone else? I'm positive that people of o...